Ah, all better! Not only do I love it when my kids have recovered from an illness, I love it when I am feeling better. It is just amazing to wake up in the morning after an illness and realize how great you feel when you just feel like yourself.
I was talking with my friend Lisa, of the Monroe-Newtown-Trumbull area Macaroni Kid, about trying to juggle everything involved in raising three kids. As parents we are responsible for their activities, their play dates, their education, in school and the supplementary resources we can provide outside of school, and their mental well-being.
With my first child, my twelve-year-old daughter, I read many books on parenting (best recommendations are anything written by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish) and poured over developmental charts, and wanted to give her a head start. Add in more kids and then any special needs for each child (like tutoring to fill in gaps or extra classes to help them pursue a passion), and it can become overwhelming. Like most parents, I feel like a cruise director who has a part-time chauffer job.
Of course there is only so much a single person can do. I have even made my older children responsible for certain aspects of their lives. I only now make playdates for my four year-old and delegate social upkeep to my older daughters, with a generous amount of reminding them to call their friends.
And while parenting is time consuming, the rewards are enormous. I just love my little cutie pies immensely. I love using holidays like Valentine's Day to help my kids feel extra special. It drives my husband a bit bonkers, but along with a card for each child, and a special treat (these Valentine pops are easy for the kids to make, too), I buy them a little something, too.
Instead of a present, my eldest daughter loves experiences. We are excited to celebrate Valentine's this year with a trip to the theater. Shrek the Musical is appearing at the Palace Theater in Waterbury and is going to be over two hours of fun. Our lucky ticket winners, Terry C. and Carmen R. will also be enjoying the show. The Palace Theater is even offering select seats at a 50% discount. Just call the box office at 203-346-2000 for details. Tell them you heard about it on Macaroni Kid!
- Giveaways:
- 81st Annual Dog Show and Obedience Trials
- Winter Wonderland Ball at Stepping Stones in Norwalk
- Harlem Globetrotters in Hartford at the XL Center
- It is time to register for day cares and preschools for the coming year. Brown Tufts Montessori and St. James Lutheran preschool are two choices in our area.
- Macaroni Kid has a big list of area restaurants that offer free and cheap kids' meal deals.
-Some great events this weekend include:
- Shrek the Musical at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT
- Sesame Street Live 1-2-3 Imagine with Elmo and Friends (with Discount Code) at The Bushnell in Hartford, CT
- Monster Jam (with Discount!!) at the XL Center in Hartford, CT
- Ancient Greek Family Day at the Bellarmine Museum of Art in Fairfield, CT--Free
- Free Second Saturday Stars Program at the John J. McCarthy Observatory at the New Milford High School in New Milford, CT
- Valentine Teddy Bear Tea at the Imagine Nation in Bristol, CT
- Big Food Opening Celebration with programs and free admission at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven, CT
- Lion's Whiskers by the Catskill Puppet Theater as part of the Puppetry Festival at the Washington Montessori School in New Preston, CT
- Maori Stories and Songs with Ataahu Pap part of the Creative Kids part of the Around the World Series at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, CT
For a cause:
-
Chocolate Lovers Expo to Benefit Easter Seals at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Southbury, CT
- Bake Sale to benefit Dyspraxia USA at the Southbury Food Center in Southbury, CT
For teens:
- Ovid's Metamorphosis at the Westover School in Middlebury, CT--Free
- Narek Arutyunyan, Clarinet, Free Young Persons' Concert at the Pequot Library in Southport, CT--Free
- Guys and Dolls at the Center Stage Theatre in Shelton, CT
- The Newtowner Masked Ball by the Newtowner Arts and Literary Magazine in the Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT--Special teen prices
- Forbidden Love with Shakesperience Performed by the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra at Naugatuck Valley Community College Fine Arts Center in Waterbury, CT
- You probably know other moms who would love to hear about the great things going on for kids and families in our area. Forward our newsletter to them. There is even a handy button at the top of the right-hand column, or on the bottom, if you read that far.
- Here are the quick links to this weekend's calendar of events where there are many, many more activities listed:
